CUE+WAV to MP3 program & settings

[jrdp_18]

Hi. I downloaded a CUE+WAV file of a game OST cause I can't find any MP3 copy of it. What program could be used to convert it to MP3 and your recommended settings? Thank you!

 

[Ignis]

I assume you're using Windows? If so, first off, download and install foobar2000.

Next, download the LAME MP3 encoder and put it in your encoder directory (something like C:\Program Files (x86)\foobar2000\encoder or wherever you installed the programme to).

Now open the cue sheet with foobar, choose the track(s) you want to convert (right click -> convert), and choose "..."

Click output format and you'll be presented with a window shown in the picture below, the one on the left. If no option is present yet, add a new one for MP3 as shown in the right window.

I recommend setting it to V0 VBR (variable bit rate). Avoid 320kbps CBR (constant bitrate); just because it's the choice placed all the way to the right doesn't mean it's the best one. 320kbps CBR encodes consume more space for little gain (to the point of no discernible difference, especially not if you don't have the right equipment―and by that I mean thousands of dollars' worth of audio hardware). This is also how we do this at ASL (Anime-Sharing Lossless, our music group). For a more elaborate (technical) definition, take a look at our FAQ item outlined at the ASL blog: http://koe.anime-sharing.com/faq/#faq-item-63

In any case, once you've made a preset for V0 VBR MP3, you're good to go. Other stuff such as Destination and Processing have no bearing on the transcoding/converting process itself and should be quite self-explanatory. For output formatting, you can refer to http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Title_Formatting_Reference

Now, get back to the track you wanted to convert and get converting. Your new preset should appear under the right-click -> convert menu. You may be prompted to locate the MP3 encoder before the process starts. Point foobar to where you placed lame.exe and voila.

By the way, thread moved to tech section as this is more about questions about a programme than a request for one.

 

[jrdp_18]

Thank you very much for the reply.

As for LAME MP3 encoder, I'm not sure what to download. As it said on the site, "LAME is only distribued in source code form." I downloaded lame-3.99.5.tar.gz to see if it has the lame.exe you mentioned but it doesn't have it. Could you please point me to where you got it?

Once again, thank you.

 

[pumasrevenge]

First, Ignis has said the best solution already. I would have recommend also Foobar since I'm using it around three years now and I'm really pleased with it ... in my opinion it's the best music player out there (and yeah, you can convert too).

Here is my version of the lame.exe. Just extract the archive and place the whole folder in your Foobar folder. It's possible that Foobar asks you for the location of the lame.exe (which is in the folder) if you want to convert the first time. If that's the case just search the lame.exe and click OK.

 

[jrdp_18]

Thank you, too! For curiosity's sake, what's the encoder for FLAC?

 

[pumasrevenge]

Thank you, too! For curiosity's sake, what's the encoder for FLAC?

Here is a Encoder pack from the official Foobar website. I'm a noob regarding FLAC since I have nothing to do with it (I don't even download it if there's no MP3 version, haha), but I think for the beginning it can't be wrong to use it :)
Or you wait for an answer of Ignis who will surely know more about FLAC than I do :D

 

[jrdp_18]

I'll download the one you linked to and wait for Ignis' explanation. Thank you.

 

[Ignis]

Ah, my mistake. I forgot about the format in which LAME is distributed. You need LAME in a "compiled" binary format (i.e. exe) to make it work with foobar2000. The LAME homepage itself does provide links for readily-available binaries, but a first-time user may get confused in choosing which version to get. Much appreciated, pumasrevenge, for providing a compiled version.

As for FLAC, the free encoder package provided by foobar should take care of it. It's just that it doesn't distribute MP3 encoders (such as LAME) since, unlike FLAC, MP3 may not be an open format (there are disputes such as patent issues and the like). If you're a purist and insist on downloading every software right from the source, here's the official download page with readily-usable binaries. As you see, though, they haven't been updated since 7 years ago.

The process to make a FLAC conversion preset is similar to the MP3 process I explained above. Many people like or insist on using level 8, but I personally use level 6 most of the time. The tl;dr version of what differentiates FLAC compression rates is that stronger compression (higher levels) trims down file sizes―albeit not greatly―at the cost of requiring more processing power. Lower levels require less processing power although they won't cut down file sizes as much. That doesn't mean using weaker compression inflates file sizes, however.

Never use level 8 if you happen to play FLAC on a portable media player or a mobile device. You're going to waste your battery faster than the size difference's worth.

 

[jrdp_18]

Ignis, pumasrevenge, thank you!

 

[Checkmate]

SOURCE: WAV 819 MB

FLAC Compression:

-5: Total encoding time 004.836, 1006.87x realtime 444 MB (466,053,562 bytes)

-6: Total encoding time 005.242, 928.89x realtime 444 MB (466,043,822 bytes)

-7: Total encoding time 012.589, 386.78x realtime 444 MB (465,811,133 bytes)

-8: Total encoding time 017.863, 272.58x realtime 443 MB (465,150,733 bytes)

Flac compression 8 save us around slightly more than 1MB comparing to level 6 at full size music cd. It tooks 4 times longer to process.